ShawnHessinger commented on the following stories on BizSugar
5 Ways to Organize Your Next Fantastically Productive Business Trip
"Hi Ivan, As a small business owner and a journalist who has covered MORE than my share of business events, I can tell you it's HUGELY important to set up as many interviews ahead of time as possible. Don't assume you'll be able to set things up when you reach an event. Things will move fast. Certainly some of your meetings will fall through and you may find yourself unexpectedly face to face with that all important lead in the elevator. But leaving everything up to chance is a bad idea. And planning ahead increases your odds of success."An In-Depth Guide to How Lenders View Your Tax Returns
"I guess I have the same question as Heather. And then I guess, on top of that my other question might be, how do tax returns compare to other factors -- amount being borrowed, collateral etc. How does it factor into the equation as far as importance?"Guest Blogging: How to Keep the Editor Happy & Get Published
"Hi Sian, The reason becoming an expert contributor has fallen out of fashion -- with Google et al -- is that it has been so terribly misused. So-called contributors are often simply out for themselves and not trying to add any value to the sites they shamelessly ask to promote them. Many have no business approaching website owners and asking them to publish their self-serving content. They are opportunists, not collaborators. Fortunately, for those interested in actually creating great content and working with other site owners instead of simply exploiting them, it will make you stand out and be asked back to help again and again. "How To Know If You\'ve Found The Perfect Franchise
"Hi Joel, Maybe a better question might be IS there a perfect franchise for you? I definitely don't believe anyone should jump into a business without a really good feeling that there is a chance for success. I guess, what I'm wondering is whether when we look for the perfect business we're setting ourselves up for disappointment. With any business, as with any job, there will be pros and cons -- things that you love about it and then things that aren't so great, but that you're willing to deal with. So my question is how to tell the difference between those things in a franchise or other business opportunity that aren't quite perfect and those things that really are deal breakers. "Dropbox vs Google Drive — Which Should You Choose?
"Vinay, Thanks for the great post! And Liz, thanks an awful lot for sharing it here in the BizSugar community! In a world with so many sharing options, small business owners sometimes need some clarifications of what's available -- and maybe a bit of a side-by-side comparison so they don't get overwhelmed. I'd agree Google Drive won't be the solution for everyone. But it's certainly nice to have some of these services clarified. "7 Proven Tips to Launch Your Business on Instagram - DhariLo #SocialMedia
"Hi DhariLo, Of course, Instagram could -- maybe even should -- be one of your main social channels. But questions do you think a business should ask to determine whether this is the place to start -- as opposed to, say, a company blog, Facebook, Pinterest etc."How To Test & Optimize PPC Ad Campaigns (Part One)
"Hi Robert, I'm sure the average business owner just dipping their toes in the PPC pool can be intimidated by all the options for their ad campaign -- especially after they have gotten past the delusion that sticking an ad up on the Web will just open the floodgates of profits. What do you recommend as a first step when starting to plan a campaign as a way to stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed? "Subscribe
3 Steps to a Paperless Office
"Hi David, As your team gets the hang of using digital tools -- especially in the cloud -- it becomes easier and easier to shed the habit of using paper in the office. That's been our experience at Small Business Trends, anyway. Going digital is not so hard. In fact, once you start using these tools, your team will never want to go back. "